I Took This Shift Because Of Her ---
Politics - Justice - And Wrestling With The Angel

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Necessary

Permission

By Husband

Women are not human beings with the right to make their own decisions in Islam. Instead, they are the property of their husbands. Depending upon how strictly the husband decides to deal with his property, women move up and down the sliding scale of slavery:

Women in Islamic Society — 13: Necessary Permission by Husband

Dr. Abd Al-Haleem Abu Shuqqah

Islamic propriety and decency also requires that long and repeated meetings between men and women should be avoided, as happens when frequent visits of relatives and friends last several hours, or when men and women meet all day long at the workplace, even though each of them is attending to their jobs.

Although these conditions are not included in any statement of the Qur’an or the Hadith, they should be observed. The point here is that when such repeated and long meetings become frequent, it becomes difficult to observe Islamic manners such as looking decently at the other person and maintaining seriousness in conversation and propriety of movement. These are required of both men and women when they meet.

Therefore, to implement the rule of closing doors leading to what is prohibited, it is advisable to refrain from such long and repeated meetings, unless the nature of one’s job requires such frequent meetings, either for discussion or cooperation in completing certain tasks. In this case, there is no harm in meeting frequently, provided that people maintain their guard. Needless to say, people who are preoccupied with their jobs have no time for distractions, which in turn helps them to maintain propriety.

All this comes within the overall requirement that Muslims, men and women, should steer away from all indecency, committed publicly or privately. God says in the Qur’an: “Do not commit any shameful deed, whether open or secret.” (6: 151) He also says: “Abstain from all sin, be it open or secret. Those who commit sins will be requited for what they have committed.” (6: 120)

We have so far explained the standard of manners that both men and women should observe. A special requirement applied only to the Prophet’s wives when they met men. Such a meeting should be from behind a screen. God says in the Qur’an: “When you ask the Prophet’s wives for something, do so from behind a screen.” (33: 53) This screening applied only to the Prophet’s wives. It merits a special discussion which we may publish later, God willing.

In addition, certain standards are required of women in particular. The first is that they should always wear clothes that fit with the standards of decency. God says in the Qur’an: “Tell believing women... not to display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof. Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms.” (24: 31) “Prophet! Say to your wives, daughters and all believing women that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments.” (33: 59) “Do not display your charms as they used to display them in the old days of pagan ignorance.” (33: 33)

A number of Hadiths speak about decency when women go out.

Umm Atiyyah mentions that she asked the Prophet when he ordered women to attend the Eid prayer: “Is a woman excused from attending if she has no outer garment to wear? He said: “Let her friend lend her an outer garment.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.) Fatimah bint Qays quotes the Prophet as saying to her: “I hate that your head covering should drop, or that your dress should be lifted to expose your legs and thus people would see of you what you would dislike them to see.”

I actually live by some of these rules in my own personal life. I do not go to the home of a woman whose husband is away and spend time with her alone. I wouldn't do that, because I do not want to invite unncecessary temptation into my life.

However, I made the decision to live in this manner of my own free will, and I do not require that my wife adopt my rules. She is free to do as she pleases.

In Islam, a woman is free only to do as her husband pleases. What do you think of that ladies? Are you ok with the idea that your gender are virtual slaves throughout much of the world?